Fence and gate construction



Oct. 7, 1958 G. B.-MOORE FENCE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aux. 24. 1956 George B. Moore INVENTOR.

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FENCE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 24, 1956 I o v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2I00 George B. Moore 97 IN V EN TOR.

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FENCE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION Filed A111. 24, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 GeorgeB Moore INVENTOR.

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United States Patent FENCE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION George B. Moore, PoncaCity, ()kla.

Application August 24, 1956, Serial No. 605,973

3 Claims. (Cl. 256-26) This invention relates to a prefabricated fenceand more particularly to a prefabricated rail fence made in portable orsemi-portable panels adjustable to suit the needs and desires of thefencer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a readily portablefence which is easily installed and is capable of fitting substantiallyany corner regardless of the irregularities of the terrain and whichwill be sturdy enough to withstand wind and storms. Ordinarily, areadily portable or semi-portable fence is not particularly substantial.Due to the structural organization in the fencing of the invention, thefence constructed in accordance therewith is very substantial and yet itcan be knocked down for storage or removal in a very short time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fence which is notonly portable and substantial but also attractive in its rustic, naturalappearance, the entire fence being preferably constructed of wood.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fence which isattractive and yet which is strong, sturdy and practical, the fencebeing readily portable for easy transportation and after installation,the fence being so constructed that it is capable of being moved fromone place to another with a minimum of effort and redirected to assumenew angularity, as in fencing different lands or different parts of theland, and the fence being arranged to fit the valleys and swells in theland.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a fenceconstruction of panels, each panel being made of a number of rails whichare supported by frames that have arms which are in a sloped plane, theends of the rails being apertured in order to accommodate connectingpins that pass through the apertures and the rails of an adjacent panelin order to form a straight run, corner, gentle or steep curve, a gateor an intersection for another length or run of fence.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a fence constructed inaccordance with the invention, this part of the fence including a gatewhich is in the closed position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a fragment of the gate and thepanel to which the gate is hingedly connected, the gate being in thepartially open position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hinge connection between the gateand adjacent panel, the gate being completely open;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Figure 1 and showing the hinge connection between the gate andadjacent panel when the gate is in the fully closed position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 2and showing the same part of the gate 2,855,183 l atented Oct. 7, 1958 2and panel adjacent to the gate with the gate in the partially openposition;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 andshowing the same part of the gate and panel adjacent to it with the gatein the completely open position;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure1;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a line 8-8 of Figure 1and illustrating a suggested means for holding the gate in the latchedcondition;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner which isconstructed in accordance with the invention, this corner being made onflat ground or approximately flat ground and showing that the corner maybe made at a 90 angle, or larger or smaller angle;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fence which isconstructed in accordance with the invention, this fence including threepanels, two of the panels being joined at an obtuse angle and on aslight hill while a different pair of the three panels is shown joinedin order to form an intersection, this also being on a grade; and

Figure 11 is a top view of a corner enclosed at an acute angle by twopanels of the fence.

In the accompanying drawings there is a fence constructed in accordancewith the invention. This fence is made completely of wood thereby havingno metal parts which would weather in a manner diiferent from theweathering of the wood in the fence. Various techniques may be adoptedto improve the quality of the fence such as treating the Wood towithstand moisture and repel insects, fungus growth, etc. Any type ofwood may be used depending on the quality of fence desired, sales appealand other factors which are not within the scope of this description,but which assume importance insofar as sales and marketability areconcerned.

Attention is first invited to Figure l where there is a fragmentary partof fence 10 illustrated. A fence is constructed of an indefinite numberof panels depending on the size of enclosure which is necessary. InFigure 1 there are five panels 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20, respectively.Panels 12 and 20 are fragmentarily illustrated while the other panelsare shown completely. A typical panel 18 has five parallel rails 21, 22,23, 24 and 25 supported near one set of ends by means of an A-frame 26having arms 27 and 28 notched as at 30 and joined by means of a woodenpin 32 near their upper ends. Dowels or other preferably, but notnecessarily, non-metallic means are used to join the individual rails tothe arm 27 of frame 26. Diagonal brace 34 is secured by wooden dowels 36or the like to the five rails and if found necessary or desirable,secured to the frame 26 near its upper end and to a frame 40 near or atthe opposite end of the panel 18. Diagonal brace 34 has an importantfunction. By it and the others like it, on uneven ground, the rails canbe made to stay parallel with the ground and the arms 41 made to standplumb.

Frame 40 is an A-frame including arms 41 and 42, and it is constructedidentically to A-frame 26. The extremities of the five rails 21, 22, 23,24 and 25 are mounted on the arm 41 of the frame 40 and are attachedthereto by means of dowels or other fasteners. Frame 40 may beconsidered a part of panel 18 or a part of panel 20 or a part of bothinasmuch as the extremities of rails 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 of panel 20are also secured thereto, being superimposed with respect to theextremities of the rails 21 through 25, inclusive. Inasmuch as frames26, 40 and all others like it are A-frames, the arms that support therails of the fence panels are retained in a plane which is sloped withrespect to the terrain on which the fence is mounted.

Brace 50 is pinned, doweled or connected by other porting. In order toreduce the length of diagonal brace 34 it, too, may be made sectionalwithastandard form of splice 54 at the junction of the sections thereof.At the places where brace 50 connect to the arms 26 and 28 there may benotches in the arms but preferably in the brace 50, this lending to aidin the rigidity and support of the fence panel 18 and any panelsconnected thereto.

Panel 16 is of a construction somewhat similar to the described panel18. However, it functions not only as a panel in the fence but also as agate inasmuch-as it is capable of swinging from a full closed positionshown in Figure 1 to an open position. Panel 16 is made of rails 57, 58,59, 60 and 61 held spaced apart the same distances as rails 21, 22, 23,24 and 25 inasmuch as they are interfitted between their extremitiesthereof. The frame 62 for holding the rails 57 through 61 assembledconsists of a pair of parallel frame members 62 and 63 that are normalto the rails. They are attached by non-rusting fasteners, preferablywooden dowels, and have the diagonal brace 65 connected to the upper endof one and the lower end of the other of the braces 62 and 63. Thediagonal brace 65 is secured to the several rails which make up thepanel 16.

One set of ends of the rails 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 are mounted separablyon leg 66 of the A-frame 68. This A frame is identical in all respectsto the A-f-rarnes 26 and 40 and includes in addition to arm 66, an arm69 connected by dowel pin 70 to arm 66. Brace 72 which is identical tobrace 50, and stake 74 which is the same as stake 52, are secured to thearms 66 and 69 in order to firmly anchor the frame 68 at the end ofpanel 18. The extremities of the rails 21 through 25, inclusive, aredoweled or otherwise secured to arm 66, and the extremities of arms 57through 61 are adapted to come to rest on the front surface of theinclined arm 66 directly below the said ends of rails 21 through 25.Crossties 75 are secured to the arms of the frames 26 and 68 so as a tohold both of the frames as a unified rigid structure.

, dowel pin 78 is located near the latching hole 81 in rail 23 so as toretain the dowel pin 78 when it is not in use as a latching bolt.

Panel 14 is constructed of rails 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91 that aresupported at one set of ends on an arm 92 of A-frame 93. This A-frame issimilar to frame 40 in both construction and function. Diagonal brace 94is secured to all of the rails 87 through 91, inclusive, and may beattached to the A-frame 95 which constitutes apart of panel 14. Frame 95has crossed arms 96 and 97 together with brace 98 and a stake, the brace98 and stake being identical to the brace and stake 50 and 52,respectively,

shown in Figure 7. Rails 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91 are connected, bynon-rusting fasteners near, but not at the ends thereof to the arm 97.The extremities of these rails are connected by similar fasteners to thearm 100 of A-frame 102, the latter having another arm 104 to which brace106 is attached, the latter being anchored by means of stake 108 whichis adapted to be driven into the ground. The space between frames 102and 95 is used for accommodating pin 110, the latter functioning as ahinge pin. The two frames 102 and 95 are held spaced apart a uniformdistance by means of crossties 112.

The hinge 116 for the panel 16 includes the pin 1 and is seen best inFigures 2-6. The hinge pin 110 is in the same plane as the rails of thefence inasmuch as it passes through apertures in rails91,'90, 89, 88 and87 that are formed between the frames and 102. The ends of rails 57, 58,59, 60 and 61 have slots 120, 121, 122, 123 and 124 through which thepin passes. By having the pin 110 arranged at an angle with respect to avertical plane and in the plane of the rails and by having the slots inthe railsof panel 16, the gate may be swung in an approximatelyhorizontal plane and when in the full open position rests with its railsnested with the rails of panel 14, the latter forming a rest for panel16 while it is in the gate open position.

Attention is now invited to Figure 9 which demonstrates a manner ofconnecting adjacent panels and 132 in order to form an outside corner onapproximately flat ground. Panel 130 has frame 134 at one end and frame136 spaced from the opposite end of each rail 137, 138, 139, 140 and141. The A-frames are identical to the previously described A-frames,and the extremities of rails 137 through 141 are in vertical echelonwith diagonally bored passages therein in order to accommodate pin 146.This pin has ahead on it and passes through similar passages in theextremities of rails 149, 150, 151, 152 nad 153 of the panel 132. Theextremities of these last mentioned rails are invertical echelon andsupported by A-frame 156. It is appreciated from inspection of Figure,9. that the angularity of the corner may be varied by moving either ofthe panels forming the corner in the direction of the arrow.

In Figure 11 there is theflsam n corner as in Figure 9, including panels139 and 132, but they are adjusted to form a corner whichencloses anincluded acute angle. The same panels may be adjusted through an angleof 90 and to an obtuse angle. An example of fence panels joined at anobtuse angle is seenin Figure 10.

Panels 172, 173, and 174 are illustrated in Figure 10. Considering firstpanels, 172 and 173, they are connected together by having their railsoverlapped as at 176 and by having pin 178 passed throughalignedapertures in the overlapped parts of the rails of the two panels, Theserails are supported in a manner identical to the description relating tothe support of the other rails of the other panels in the fence. Panel173has rails 180, 181, 182, 183 and 184 supported by A-frames 188 and189 located near one set of ends (188) thereof and frame 189 located atthe opposite set of ends thereof. But, between the ends of the railsthrough 184, there is a slightly different frame 190 which includes arms192 and 1 93 crossed, these .arms being secured by. rustless fastenersto the rails 180, 181, 182, .183 and,184. One of these accommodates theextremities of the. rails. of, the fence panel 174, and the lastmentioned rails are secured thereto by rustless fasteners. By varyingthe angularity of the arms of the A-frame 190 compensation for elevationchanges in the terrain is obtained. As is apparent from Figure 10, thejunctionof panels 173. and 174, forms a T or may be used to form an Lintersection for the fence.

In constructing a fence in accordance .withtheipyention the panels arepreferably already prefabricated, requiring only installation of theA-frames in accordance with the desires of the owner. Theframes are setup by merely arranging one .arm at proper angularity to the other arm,the other arm. already having the railsfastened thereto. At the notchedjunction oftthe two arms. of the A-frame under consideration the pin istightened, and the lowerv horizontal. braces applied. The stakes aredriven into the groundthe desired distance and attached to the brace andthe lower part of the frame to which the brace is attached.

'The panels are joined by using the long dowel pins described herein,and. where irregularities. of terrain req the slotted ype. rail s adaptd for c pensat fo t e nclina i sand. dec i latiqns- I T e fo e oi isfi ast r ea llr t a es a the the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A prefabricated rail fence which is adjustable during erection tosuit terrain slopes and irregularities and to turn to practically anyangle, said fence comprising a plurality of panels and means to connectthe confronting ends of said panels, at least one panel comprising anA-frame having a first and a second arm, a pivot pin connecting-saidarms near the upper ends thereof, a plurality of rails secured to saidfirst arm and maintained thereby in a sloping plane, a brace secured toboth of said arms, a stake secured to said brace and one of said arms,said connecting means including a titlted hinge pin extending throughsaid rails and disposed in said sloping plane, a panel adjacent to saidone panel constituting a gate and having rails which are provided withslots near their ends, said ends of said gate rails being in contactwith the rails of said panel, and said tilted hinge pin being passedthrough said slots in said rails.

2. A gate for a prefabricated rail fence comprising an A-frame having afirst and a second arm, a plurality of rails secured to said first armand maintained thereby in a sloping plane, means securing said A-frameto the ground, a tilted hinge pin extending through an end of '6 saidrails and disposed in said sloping plane, a panel consituting a gate andhaving rails which are provided with slots near their ends, said ends ofsaid gate rails being in contact with said rails, and said tilted hingepin being passed through slots in said rails.

3. A prefabricated rail fence comprising a plurality of panels and meansto connect confronting ends of said panels, at least one panelcomprising an A-frame having a first and a second arm, a pivot pinconnecting said arms near the upper ends thereof, a plurality of railssecured to said first arm and maintained thereby in a sloping plane,brace means secured to both of said arms, means on said frame forsecuring said frame into the ground, said connecting means including atilted hinge pin extending through said rails and disposed in saidsloping plane, a panel adjacent to said one panel constituting a gateand having rails which are provided with slots near their ends, saidends of said gate rails being in contact with the rails of said panel,and said tilted hinge pin being passed through said slots in said rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 67,017Boone July 23, 1867 130,441 Ramsey Aug. 13, 1872 294,721 Brown Mar. 4,1884 359,297 Town Mar. 15, 1887 1,647,585 Sargent Nov. 1, 1927

